Denise's+IAD

=Common Ground = =A COMETeer Creation =



Purpose
Common Ground is an activity that can be used as an ice-breaker for students or as a lead-in to a mathematics lesson covering data collection and presentation methods. The activity can be modified for use with children, adolescents, or adults in instructional or non-instructional settings. This page explains the activity for use as an ice breaker.

Time Required
This activity will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

Number of Participants

 * Minimum: 10
 * Maximum: 40
 * Optimal: 20

Supplies Needed

 * Note cards
 * two sheets of 8.5" x 11", white paper
 * Felt-tipped marker
 * Masking tape or blue painter's tape
 * Approximately 80 square feet of empty floor space in an 8' x 10' area

Preparation

 * Facilitators should pause to consider her/his goal of the activity and factors that influence the question content. The questions can be serious or silly, depending on the setting and implementer's goal for the activity. Is the intent to find out more about the audience? Is the goal to liven up a class and encourage interest in a subject? Do the participants know each other?
 * Prepare 10-15 note cards. Write one question on each note card that can be answered "yes, no, or undecided". Questions should be relevant to the setting and correlate to the audience's personal interests. . Number the cards sequentially.
 * Sample questions for specific audiences are listed below.


 * ~ Audience/Setting ||~ Sample Question ||
 * 10th grade mathematics classroom || I should be allowed to send text messages during class. ||
 * Kindergarten classroom || I know how to get to the cafeteria. ||
 * Teachers attending a technology conference break-out session || I would implement more technology projects in my classroom if I each student had her/his own laptop to use in class. ||
 * Clear or locate a space in the room that is clear of furniture.
 * Make a straight line on the floor using the tape. The line should be long enough to allow every member of the group to comfortably stand on either side or on top of the line after each question is read.
 * Write "yes" and "no" in large letters on the white paper.
 * Distribute note cards randomly as participants enter. Tell each that they will read the question when you call out the number that is on the card.

Introduction
Explain to students that the activity will help participants to find our common ground, the similarities among us. Facilitators may use/personalize the following scripted introduction.

"Welcome to (class, workshop, etc.). Before we dig into (session or course content) let's take a few moments to get a feel for each other and find our common ground. (An explanation of the idiom may be necessary at this point.) An awareness of each other's feelings and perspectives will help us get to know each other a little better."

"Several people in the room have a note card with a number and a question on it. When I call out a number, the person holding the card with that number will read the question (facilitator may need to read questions to young participants). There are number of questions."

"Each person will answer will answer yes (hold up sign with the word yes written on it and stand on the to the yes side of the line), no (hold up the sign with the word no written on it and move to the no side of the line), or undecided to the question by standing on the line (stand on the line and lower the signs as you move on top of the line)."

"Look around and notice the number of people who answer the questions in the same way than you do."

Pause to check for understanding and provide clarification before proceeding with the activity.

Process

 * Step || Facilitator's Actions || Participant's Actions || Time ||
 * 1 || Distribute note cards randomly as participants enter || Selected participants take note cards || Varies ||
 * 2 || Introduce Activity || Listen and ask questions if necessary || 7 minutes ||
 * 3 || Call question numbers. May choose to respond to questions with participants. || Read or listen to question. Move in response to question. || 15 minutes ||
 * 4 || Encourage discussion surrounding the responses. || Participate in discussion surrounding the responses. || 5-10 minutes ||

Debrief
Direct participants to their seats after the last question is called. Ask them to recall the way individuals answer the questions. Which questions receive a specific response by the majority? How did it feel to give an answer that was in the minority? One goal of the discussion is to facilitate a rich discussion about the similarities and differences in responses.

Credits
This activity is adapted from the ice breaker Take a Stand located at [|About.com].